Apple rumored to partner with Broadcom for 802.11ac WiFi in 2013 Macs

Apple's next update for its Mac lineup will obviously include a few welcome upgrades, but it's rumored that Apple has struck a deal with wireless chip firm Broadcom in order to bring high-speed 802.11ac 5G "Gigabit WiFi" to future Macs later this year. If true, the new WiFi chips will provide a much-needed boost in networking for the 2013 Macs.

802.11ac offers faster throughput, higher capacity, wider coverage, and improved power efficiency. Products offering 802.11n connectivity (found in most consumer electronics, and is the current standard) provide connections up to 450Mbps, while 802.11ac equivalents start at 450Mbps and are capable of almost tripling its predecessor with 1.3Gbps.

Broadcom is currently just one out of a small number of chip makers currently providing 802.11ac chipsets, which are aimed at the smartphone, tablet, and router markets. Some manufacturers have introduced 802.11ac networking in notebooks recently, but large-scale notebook support is still ultimately lacking.

According to anonymous sources, the 802.11ac WiFi chip is still in development, so it's actually not really a thing yet, but it's said that if everything goes according to schedule, the new chips should be ready in time to be put in the new line of Mac computers later this year.